British Academy says RCUK’s open access policy fails to consider its impact on humanities and social sciences

21 Mar 2013

The British Academy has responded to the call by Research Councils UK (RCUK) for comments on its Open Access Policy and Supporting Guidance, published earlier this month. In its statement, British Academy response to the RCUK Policy on Open Access and Supporting Guidance: March 2013, the Academy criticises the limited response time allowed by RCUK for comments on such an important policy - particularly in light of the recent report from the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee, which noted the lack of previous consultation.

The British Academy is now calling on RCUK to demonstrate its commitment to bringing about a consensual transition to open access. Specifically the Academy is urging RCUK to improve the clarity and consistency of its guidance on embargo periods, to reconsider its stance on licences to take account of concerns expressed within the humanities and social sciences, and to take a longer-term perspective on the reviewing of its open access policies. RCUK must continue to engage widely with universities and subject bodies, in order to reflect different publication practices across the full spectrum of disciplines.